IT was billed as the game of the weekend, but this game really didn't live up to expectations at all. For a clash between two of the top three contenders for the title the lack of bite and of urgency was more than a little disappointing. The fact either team could lose and still win this title must surely have had an effect on the psychology of two teams for whom knock-out hurling is, most obviously, king.

Still when push came to shove the team which wanted it more and had that little bit more class about them won through. That team was Ballyduff. They took their time to get going, but when they did they had far to much for a Lixnaw side who were obviously tiring as the game went on – this being the third game in seven days for a large number of their players, it was always likely to happen.

They competed well in the first half when they had the wind at their backs and with John Griffin competing expertly for ball and breaks around the middle third of the pitch they had more than enough ball to punish Ballyduff. Griffin aside, however, scores from play were very thin on the ground for Lixnaw.

James Flaherty was clearly highlighted as their danger-man by Ballyduff before the game and while he worked hard and was accurate from the placed ball Lixnaw needed some return from him from play. That it didn't come meant that they went in at the break with just a two point lead. It never felt like it was going to be enough.

That's how it panned out, but even so Ballyduff's first half performance, while by no means overly impressive, gave enough of an indication as to how they might win this game. Simply put they had forwards of real ability – most visibly young Padraig Boyle. He got the ball a only a handful of times in that first half, he scored two points and won '65.

There wasn't a marked improvement from Ballyduff from the beginning of the second half. Sure they had the wind into the Horan's End and sure they were gradually pegging Lixnaw's lead back, but the men in green and gold put up a pretty stiff resistance. Why shouldn't they? They were after all in the lead. Points from Enda Galvin and James Flaherty meant it took Ballyduff until the midway point in the half to draw level.

Gradually they became more and more dominant. Aiden Boyle began to dictate matters from midfield and on the half-forward line Ally O'Connor was really showing up well. Three points from him early in the half hauled Ballyduff back into contention, while his fourth point fired the sea-siders back in front.

Lixnaw managed to draw level one last time – John Griffin again providing the inspiration. Ballyduff inspired by the Boyle brothers pulled away – Mikey, Padraig (twice) and Aiden firing over points in the last five minutes to seal the deal.

Ballyduff did what they had to, but no more. There's more to come and with Padraig Boyle in that kind of form will be at least a match for St Brendans in the winners round. Lixnaw, meanwhile, are badly in need of some inspiration.

BALLYDUFF: Joe Murphy, Jason Bowler, Colm Boyle, Padraig O'Grady, David O'Grady, Liam Boyle, Anthony O'Grady, Aiden Boyle (0-1), Paud Costelloe, Ally O'Connor (0-4), Barry O'Grady, Mikey Boyle ( 0-1), Eddie Joy, Padraig Boyle (0-4), Bobby O'Sullivan (0-6, 3f, 1 '65) Subs: Declan Bowler for A O'Grady

LIXNAW: Martin Stackpoole,

Under pressure: Ballyduff's Padraig Boyle puts Lixnaw's Alan Bonn Lixnaw under pressure as he tries to clear his lines during last Sunday's County SHC first round clash in Austin Stack Park, Tralee Alan Bonn, Fergus Fitzmaurice, Brendan Brosnan, Paudie Lyons, Trevor McKenna, Maurice Corridan, Conor Fitzmaurice (0-1), John Griffin (0-3), Enda Galvin (0-1), Mike Conway (0-1), James Flaherty (05f), Cillian Fitzmaurice, Steven Power, Padraig Fitzmaurice Subs: Roibeard Thornton (0-1) for P Fitzmaurice, Pat Horgan for S Power, Tom Brosnan for A Bonn

REFEREE: Anthony Cummins (Cork)

- Damian Stack at Austin Stack Park, Tralee